Lamp-wick-trimming device.



A. G. DUNCAN.

LAMP WIGK TRIMMING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED .APR.26,1912.

1,050,928. Patented Jan.21,1913.

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KINETED STATES PATENT @FFEQE.

ABNER G. DUNCAN, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

LAMP-WIGK-TRIMMING DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ABNER Gr. DUNCAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norfolk, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lamp-VVick-Trimming Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to lamp wick cleaning devices.

The object of the invention is to provide means for removing the charred or carbonaceous material, due to combustion, from the wicks of lanterns and lamps.

Further objects and advantages will be more fully described herein and specifically pointed out in annexed claims recourse being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification in which:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 is an end view of the same showing a broken portion of the wick tube, and Fig. 1 is an elevation of the lower portion and a section of the up per portion of a lantern showing my device in various positions which are indicated by full and dotted lines.

In the drawings like reference numerals indicate similar .parts in all the several views.

1 is a wire bent into an offset portion 2, a straight part or shank 3, terminating in another bent portion 4 which acts as a handle.

5, (3 and '7 are U shaped or arched bars or scrapers formed upon one end of the wire 1, as shown.

8 is the lamp wick tube and 9 is a fiat wick usually found in railway and other signal lanterns.

10 is the burner of the lantern or lamp 11. (Fig. 4E).

The invention is operated so as to scrape the burned or charred residue formed 011 top and sides of the wick by giving the device a forward and backward movementlFig l) with the cleaner or scraper 1 in contact with the top of the wick, as shown in Fig. 3.

When the device is being used it first assumes the position indicated by the dotted lines A (Fig. 4) and then the position shown by the full lines B.

hen the scraper or trimmer is not in use it may rest upon the top of the oil font or reservoir and lie out of the way alongside Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 26, 1912.

Patented J an. 21, 1913.

Serial No. 693,363.

of the burner and suitably secured so as to prevent dislodgment when the lantern' is swung in giving switching signals in railway service. I

In railway and some other types of lanterns a suitable orifice or hole will have to be made in the globe ring or casing, as at 12 in Fig. 4, in order that the portion a may protrude so that the lantern may be trimmed in a high wind from the outside without lifting or tilting the globe or chimney.

\Vhen charred material accumulates on the wick, the flame is often small, pointed or otherwise distorted and the flame very fre quently falls off and puts out the light by being carried away by the self-detached carbonaceous matter.

The open spaces prevent the charred portion of the wick from carrying the flame with it when rubbed off as half only is taken off before the other side is scraped and the first part cleaned will have relighted.

In my invention the wick is cleaned in a satisfactory manner without exposing the flame to a current of air.

My invention is particularly adapted for railway service where signal oil is used and whose viscosity is more than the ordinary hydrocarbon oil.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. A device of the class described comprising a shank or handle provided with an offset or curved portion, and a square or rectangular open loop provided with cross bars thereupon.

2. A device of the class described comprising a shank, said shank provided with a loop formed from said shank, said loop being provided with transverse arched scraping bars or loop members.

3. A device of the class described com prising a shank, said shank having its end formed into a continuous wire loop, said loop being provided with arched dividing members or bars.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ABNER G. DUNCAN.

l/Vitnesses S. A. COLEMAN, G. N. KING.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

